Clinical Depression is a catch all phrase for any number of depressive disorders. The symptoms of clinical depression affect everyone who suffers from it in different ways. Depression affects people across all age ranges, genders, ethnicities, cultures and religions. According to the American Psychiatric Association over 17 million men and women in the U.S. suffer from some form of clinical depression every year.

Clinical depression is very different then the normal  bluemoods most people go through during their lives. Most people react to major let downs and traumatic experiences in their lives such as breakups of relationships or deaths of family or friends the same way. They have a period of mourning or just feeling in the dumps but after a few days to a week they start to return to their normal selves.

Clinical depression sufferers do not snap out of their depressed moods. They can spend weeks, months and even years trapped in their malaise. It is the length of the feelings and symptoms that will confirm a diagnosis of clinical depression but many people who suffer from this illness do not seek the help they need. They may not even realize that they are indeed suffering from a form of depression because their current condition has slowly manifested itself over a long period of time.

The common symptoms of clinical depression can be broken up into three categories. Any combination of these symptoms that last for more than a two week period of time signifies that someone is suffering with depression.

1. Physical Symptoms:

• Sleep problems either insomnia or oversleeping and not having normal sleep patterns.
• Lack of energy and chronic fatigue
• Appetite changes leading to weight gain or loss.
• Headaches, digestive problems, back pain and other physical symptoms for which there is no medical illness.

2. Behavioral Symptoms:

• Loosing interest in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable. Withdrawing from social functions and obligations.
• Memory loss, inability to concentrate and make good decisions.
• Lack of concern over personal appearance, responsibilities and work.

3. Emotional Symptoms:

• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and guilt.
• Continual feelings of sadness or not feeling whole.
• Constant crying and weeping.
• Irritable feelings including anxiousness and agitation.
• Feeling like suicide or death is an alternative to living.

If any combination of these symptoms last for more than two weeks then a diagnosis of clinical depression will in most cases be made. Only by seeking out and receiving the proper treatment, either through medication, therapy, or a combination of the two, will the sufferer of clinical depression be able to start the road to recovery. Andrew Bicknell